Chocolate mixing and melting machine



July 24, 1923. l4l-62,62

- v o. A. LABUS ET Al.

CHOCOLATE MIXING AND MELTING MACHINE A f' 4. 7"' ,w

ATTORNEY July 24, 1923.

www@ O.A.LABUS ETAL CHOCOLATE MIXING AND MELTING MACHINE Filed June 50,1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR OOH'LCLEPHRS Q WITNESSES @hawks MP@ 25?waa/w( BY ATTORNEY .my 24, w23.

O. A. LABUS ET AL CHOCOLATE MIXING AND MELTING MACHINE 1921 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 30 WITNESSES ATTOR N EY Patented July 2d,i923.

Silla-kwil OTTO A. LAB'S, OF WISCONSIN RAPIDS, AND CHARLES H. PETH, OFWAUSAU, WIS- CONSIN; SAID LABUS ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CARBONIO MACHINERYCOMPANY,

OF VISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.

CHOCOLATE MIXING AND MELTING MACHINE.

Application le. .Tune 30, 1921. Serial No. 481,550.

To all whom may concern.'

Be it known that we, OTTO A. LABUS and CHARLES H. Parri, citizens of theUnited States, residing at llVisconsin Rapids and llausau, respectively,in the counties of lWood and Marathon and State of lWisconsin, haveinvented a new and useful Chocolate Mixing and Melting Machine, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for the treatment of chocolate incandy factories.

Heretofore, devices of this kind have been constructed whereby sectionsmay be added for enlarging a single compartment and jackets have beenemployed. for heating the device as asingle compartment. Furthermore,devices have been employed in which a common source of power has beenprovided for the operation of a plurality of independent devices.

The object of thisinvention is to provide a device for thoroughly mixingchocolates and at the same time cooling or heating the mixture, and assuch, comprehends further the use of a plurality of individual mixers,all portions of which are surrounded by a water jacket except the cover.The mixers are assembled from anumber of such similar andinterchangeable parts that the water jacket will be common to all themixers and form the partitions between consecutive mixers A feature ofthe device is its knocl -down characteristic whereby one or more devicesmay be readily assembled upon a single shaft and provided with a commonwater jacket, but each mixer forms a complete and independent unit forthe treatment of a distinct chocolate preparation while presenting` inappearance a single device.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so longas such changes and modifications mark no material departure from` thesalient features of the vinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

ln the drawings Fig. l is a longitudinal section of a unitar f structurecomprising a plurality of mixers.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is another end view of the mixer.

Fig. lis a transverse section through one of the mixers along the linel-t of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the mixers.

The device comprises generally a supporting base formed from a pluralityof standards; a plurality of individual mixers per se; a casing commonto the plurality of mixers and forming with the exterior surface of themixers a water jacket, and an operating mechanism which is common to theplurality of mixers and passes centrally thereof for operatingindividual paddles located on the shaft and within the confines of eachmixer. Each mixer is provided with an individual inlet, and likewise anindividual outlet, by reason of the fact that these varous mixers may beemployed at one and the same time for the treatment of as many differentkinds of chocolate as there are mixers on the common shaft.

Referring to the drawings, the supporting base or table is formed of aplurality of standards l, connected together through outwardly extendingbrackets 2 by means of perforated flanges 3 and bolts Ll. The upper edgeof each of the brackets 2 is provided with a perforated flange 5, thepurpose of which will bc explained later. Between the flanged ends 3 ofthe brackets 2 may be placed flanged extension plates 6 forprogressively increasing the length of the table where the weight of themachine does not necessarily require a supporting standard l. Theseplates are connected in a manner similar to the connection between thehanged ends 3 of the standards l. Bars 7 connect pairs of the standardsl near their lower ends and transversely of the device to form a bracingmeans for the standards l and likewise a supporting means for a table 8.

Upon the flanged brackets 2 of the standards l. is secured ancutercasing 9 formed of a plurality of semi-cylindrical sections l()which are flanged at their outer pe 1ipheries as shown at l1. rlheflanges are secured together by means of bolts 12. Near the bottom ofeach sec-tion of the casing l() are flanges 13 projecting outwardly fromthe flanges l1 and laterally of the casing and connected to the flange 5of the bracket 2, by means of bolts. In this manner. the whole outersectional casing is secured to the supporting structure or table. Theupper ends of the casings 10 are provided with horizontal flanges 1liwhich are in alinement d and provide a support for the inner casings.

The ends o-f the casing 9 are closed by two plates or heads 16 and 17.The head 17 shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is secured to the flange 11 of anend section 10 of the casing 9 by means of a plurality of bolts passingthrough perforations extending through the head and the flange `11. Theother end of the casing i-s similarly closed by the plate or head 16. Aninner plate 13, spaced from the head 16, is provided with a boss 19 inwhich is located a packing 20 and glands 21 and 22, said` boss beinginserted through a perforation centrally disposed in the head A boss 23surrounds the opening in the head 16 and is provided with packing 24Cand a gland 25.

The boss 19 provides a bearing for a shaft 26 which extendslongitudinally of the axis of the device. A bearing in a similar boss 19for the shaft 26 is located on the head 17. The construction justdescribed relative to the packing and the glands in reference to head 16is duplicated in a similar construction on the head 17. The plate 1S isprovided with a flange 18l adapted to engage the upper horizontal edgeof the end head 16- to aid in supporting the plate 18. A series ofpaddles 27 are connected to the shaft 26 through semi-circular sleeves23 and 29 integrally formed on the inner ends of the paddles by drawingtogether flanges 30 and 31 that project outwardly from the semi-circularsleeves 28 and 29.

Encasing the paddles are inner casings 32 provided with the flangedportions 33, 3e and 34?. The outwardly projecting flanges 34a engage theflanges 14 for supporting the innei1 casings 32. Between the innercasings are spaced hollow sections 35 of the water jacket forming acommon partition between consecutive mixers. These sections comprise twoplates 36 and 37, and a horizontal member 33 connecting the plates neartheir upper ends in such a manner that the flanges 39 are provided whichwill cooperate with the member 38 to hold the cover 15 fromdisplacement.

The plates 36 and 37 are centrally connected by a perforated boss 40 inwhich is secured a bushing l1 providing a bearing for the shaft 26. Atthe outer peripheries and located between the outer edges of the plates36 and 37 are spaced a series of bosses 43 integrally formed with theplates 36 and 37 and perforated for the insertion of bolts 4t2. Theflanges 34; of the inner casings 32 are likewise perforated and adaptedto receive the bolts 42 as shown in Fig. 1 for connecting the waterjacket formed by the plates 36 and 37 to the two adjacent inner casings.Nuts draw the flanges 33 and 311 of the casings 32 firmly against'tliewater jackets 35 in order to form a water-tight seal in theseconnections.

Any number' of units or independent mire ers may thus be assembledy byadding to the end of each water jacket a set of paddles 27 securedfirmly to the shaft 26 an inner casing 32 bolted to the preceding waterjacket an finally closing the last section by the end plates 16 and 13,as: shown on the left of the construction disclosed by Fig. 1.

A section of the water jacket 35 always forms a common partition betweentwoof the mixers, while the ends of the whole mixer are closed by theplates 16 and 17 especially constructed for this purpose.

The common shaft 26 is operated through a worm gear speed reducing unit113 secured upon the bracket 441, which bracket is in turn secured tolugs/l5 projecting outwardly from the end plate 17. Upon the end of asha-ft 46 are mounted drive wheels e7 vhich are adapted to be operatedby means of a belt or directly connected to an electric motor or other d'iving means.

later is admitted to the jacket formed by means of the outer and innercasings and the hollow sections 35 through an inlet pipe i8 which leadstol the to-p of the device and enters through the plate 17. A valve 49controls the flow of hot or cold water to this pipe. An overflow 50 issecured in the upper end of the end plate 16, while valve-controlleddrains 51 are connected to the end plate-s 16 and 17 for dischargingthewater from the jacket.

Steam may be admitted to both ends of the water jacket through pipes 52and 53 connected to the lower ends of the plates 16 and 17,respectively, and adapted to discharge steam into the water for heatingthe same. The pipes connect the steam pipes 52 with the upper end of thewater jacket at both ends of the mixers.

The table 3 is adapted to provide a means for holding drip pans 54Cwhich are placed beneath the quick-acting' valves A pipe 56 passingthrough a lgland 57 and packing 58 located in a boss59 formed at thelower portion of each o-f the outer casings 10 is connected at its innerend with the inner Casing at 60` and is adapted to drain the contents ofthe inner casings 32 when the valve is operated by means of a rod 61.The valve 55 is closed upon the release of the rod 61 by means of aspring 62.

The covers 15 are pivoted at one end to the flange 34 of the innercasing 32 and are provided with the handles 63 and index card holders. j

The general operation of our device will ,now be described. Since thepurpose or i nections for the admission object of this `invention is toprovide a plurality of individual units for separately mii;- ingrdifferently flavored or different kinds o t chocolate and all operatedby a common shai'ft` and heatedv by a common `water jacket, thedescription vwill be applied more strictly to the ready assembling ordismantling1 oi" the different units when necessity requires such aproceeding'. lt only one mixer were required, a construction wouldappear made up of the following elements. Referring); to Fig. 1, thehead 16 and plate 18 would be set up as illustrated, the shaft 26passing` through the glands and packing` in the boss 19 formed in theplates .18; the paddles 27 will be secured upon the shaft 26 ,the outercasing 10 will be bolted at its outer edges to the heads 16 and 17,while the inner casing 32 will have its flanged edges secured to the endplates 18.

ot steam and water will not be disturbed, and by means of theirconnection to the heads 16 and 17 will permit circulation ot steam andwater in the jacket which is formed by the inner and outer casing-s andthe plates 16, 17 and 18. rlhe outer casings are assembled upon andconnected by means of their outwardly projecting' flanges to two pairsofstandards 1.

It will also be noted that the standards are so constructed that theylikewise partake of a sectional nature in which any number may beemployed corresponding; to the number ot mixers required or any numbermay be eliminated accordingly as the number of mixers are limited.

ln assembling two or more mixers, the necessary number of standards willbe joined by the bolting together the flanges 3 oli' the brackets .2 andbracing the legs of the standards by the transverse bars 7. Acorresponding number ot outer casing 10 are set up and bolted to thestandards; the shattinr; 26 and the head 17 with its assembled water andsteam connections and driving; gear, and the4 plate 18 are then fixed inplace. A series of paddles 27 and hollow sections 35 are nextalternately placed on the shaittingT until the end of the nal outercasing' 10 is reached, when the plates 16 and 18 are bolted to the outerand inY er casingrs respectively. As is shown in Fig. 1, each section 35is bolted to the adjacent flanges 33 and or" the inner casings 82. Theend plate 16 carries with it the steam and water connections. The covers15 andthe outlet pipes 56 to each mixer are then placed in position. Thedevice is now ready for mininga number of different kinds ot chocolatesand each cover may be labeled accordingly. i

From an inspection ot' all the figures, it will -be seen that in thisparticular machine there are no driving` gears, pulleys or shatt- ,coe

The pipe coning directly over the top ot the machine or in any exposedposition where it would be dangerous to workmen since the shattingrpasses through the device and is enclosed therein.

lt will be also noted that each unit of the device is made up ot aninner casing,y 32, forming the bottom and sides ci' what may be termed atub within which the paddles revolve, and that the wall between any twoadjacent tubs is formed by the spaced plates 36 and 87, the spacebetween these plates being' lilled with water which is in freecommunication with the water between the set of tubs and the outerjacket, which is also made up ot sections as shown at 10, and the endplates 16 and 17.

The tubs are vertically disposed so that the `paddles will be rotated ina vertical plane. The purpose oi' such a construction is to prevent thecocoa butter, which is a part ot the chocolate, from separating?,` fromthe chocolate itself and floating upon the surface. The cocoa butter,which always tends to work its way to the surface of the molten fluid,will be beaten downward into the mass 'ot the chocolate and thoroughlymixed therewith. This is not possible with horizontal tub machines,since the paddles work in a horizontal plane and tend to drive the cocoabutter towards the surface of thetluid.

life further wish it to be understood that we are the first to produce achocolate mir;- ing` device, whereby a plurality of tubs or independentmixers presenting; in appearance a single mixer have a common waterjacket t'or ieating` all parts of the mixers, except the top, withportions of the said water jacket termine1 a common partition betweenthe consecutive tubs or mixers.

lllhat is claimed is:`l

l. ln a mixingmachine, a plurality of standards provided withconnecting' means, a plurality ot inner casinrg's` a plurality of hollowsections of a water jacket having connestingi means for joiningconsecutive inner casings, and a plurality ot outer casine's providedwith connecting; means tor joining the casings together and to thestandards, said connecting; means in eachcase being,- adapted torsectionally assembling the parts to provide a unitary structurecomprising; a plurality oi independent mixers and a common water jacket.

2. ln a mixing machine, a spaced hollow sections: ot a shatt journaledcent 'ally of said sections, paddles mounted. on said shatt and locatedbetween consecutive. sections, inner casings enclosing` the paddles andsecured to consecutive sections ot the water jacket, thereby forming`individual and independent ers, outer casings secured together andcooperating with the inner casings and secplurality ot water jacket, a

tions to form a common water jacket for the plurality of mixers, andheads closing the ends of the outer casings.

3. In a mixing machine, a plurality of tubs, each tub comprising aninner casing forming the base and sides of the tub, interchangeablesections of a water jacket forming the'two ends of the tubs, a shaftextending through the tubs, paddles mounted on the shaft between thesections of .the water jacket, and a plurality of outer casings joinedtogether'and cooperating with the inner casings and sections of thewater jacket to form a common water jacket for one or more of the tubs.

t. In a mixing machine, a plurality of spaced hollow sections of a waterjacket, inner casings alternately connected with the yspaced sections toform a plurality of tubs,

and outer casings joined together land forming with the inner casingsand the sections of the water jack-t a common jacket for the pluralityof tubs.

5. ln a mixing machine, a plurality of spaced hollow sections of a waterjacket, a shaft journaled centrally of said sections, paddles mounted onthe shaft between said sections,` inner casings secured to and betweenconsecutive sections of the water jacket, outer casings secured togetherand surrounding the inner casing to form with the inner casingand thesections of the water jacket a-jacket common to the whole device, theinner casings and alternate sectionsof the jacket forming individualmixers.` i

6. In a mixing machine, a plurality of spaced sections of a waterjacket, a shaft journaled in said sections, paddles mounted on the shaftbetween said sections, inner casings secured to and between consecutivesections of the water jacket, outer casings secured together andsurrounding the inner casings to form with the inner casings and thesections of the water jacket a water jacket `common to the wholedevice,l the inner casing and consecutive jackets forming individualmixers, each mixer being provided with an outlet passing through theouter casings.

7. ln a mixing machine, a plurality of spaced sections of a waterjacket, a shaft journaled in said sections, a paddle mounted on theshaft between said sections, an inner casing secured to and betweenconsecutive sections of the water jacket, outer casings secured togetherand surrounding the inner casing to form with the inner casing and thesections of the water jacket a jacket common to the whole device, theinner casing andV consecutive jackets forming individual mixers, meansfor admitting water to the jackets, and means for passing steam throughsaid water jacket. i

8. In a mixing machine, a plurality of mixers, a common shaft j ournaledcentrally of said mixers, paddles secured to the shaft in each mixer, awater jacket surrounding all portions of each mixer except the top, theportion of the water jacket located between two consecutive mixerscomprising two walls integrally connected andhaving a space therebetweenforming a common water jacket for said consecutive mixers.

9. ln a mixing machine, ya plurality of tubs, a shaft journaledcentrally of said tubs, paddles secured to the shaft in each tub, acasing surrounding said tubs, hollow sections of av water jacketv commonto consecutive tubs and in communication with the space between theexterior of the tubs and the outer casing, and means for admitting waterto said casino'.

l0. In a mixing machine, a plurality of vertical mixers, in longitudinalalinement, a plurality of spaced hollow sections of a water jacket eachforming a common partition for consecutive mixers, inner casingsconnected to said sections of the jacket, an outer casing enclosing theinner casings, and pairs of connected supports, there being one pair for'each mixer.

ll. In a mixing machine, a plurality of nixers presenting in appearancea single structure provided with a common shaft and water jacket, andcomprising vertical hollow portions ofthe water jacket spaced .betweenthe ends of the device and forming partitions for consecutive mixers, anouter casing enclosing the mixers, plates closing the mixers disposed atopposite ends of the device, and heads connected to said plates andlikewise to the outer casing for completing the water jacket.

l2. In a mixing machine, a plurality of mixers presenting in appearancea single structure provided with a common shaft and water jacket, andcomprising in combination, an inner casing, an outer casing enclosingthe same, vertical hollow portions of the water jacket spaced along theshaft and connected to the inner casing and provided with openingscommunicating with the space between the inner and outer casings,platesv closing the ends of the inner casing, an heads connected to saidplates and likewise to the outer casing for completing the water jacket,the space between the adj acentpla-tes and heads being in communicationwiththe space between the inner and outer casings.

13. In a mixing machine, an outer casing, heads secured to the ends ofthe casing for closing the same, an inner casing spaced at all pointsfrom and also suspended from the outer casing, plates closing the endsof the inner casing and engaging the upper portions of the heads, bosseson the end plates extending through perforations in the heads, a shaftjournaled in said bosses, and aplurality of hollow vertical partitionsconnected to the inner casing, dividing said casing into a plurality ofmixers, a water jacket formed between the inner and outer casings forthe circulation ot water, each of the hollo-w Vertical partitions beingprovided with a passageway to admit water from the jacket to said hollowpartitions.

lil. ln a mixing machine, a. plurality of tubs in longitudinalalinement, a common shaft for said tubs, paddles located within each tuband secured to the shaft, an outer casing enclosing the tubs, and awat-er jacket permitting circulation of water between consecutive tubsand opening into thevspace between the end tubs and outer casing, the

`sections of the jacket between the tubs each comprising a pair or'spaced walls integrally connected and forming the adjacent end walls ofthe respective tubs each of said tubs being provided with an outletpassing through the water jacket.

ln a miningy machine,` comprising in combination spaced apart heads, a.sectional outer casing, 'the' sections being assembled endwise, theouter ends'ot which are connected to the spaced heads, plates spacedfrom the heads and provided with bosses projecting through perforationsin the heads, a plurality of hollow sections of a water jacketspacedbetween the said plates, an inner casing spaced from the outer casing toform a water jacket therebetween and consisting of separable sectionsconnected to and between the hollow sections, the water jacket havingcommunication with the hollow sections and the spaces between the saidplates and the adjacent heads.

16. In a mixing machine, a plurality of spaced hollow interchangeablesections of a water jacket, interchangeable inner casings alternatelyconnected with the spaced sections to forni a plurality of tubs, andinterchangeable outer casings joined together and forming with the innercasings and the sections of the jacket, a common jacket for theplurality of tubs.

In testiinonygthat we claim the foregoing asV our own, we have heretoaffixed our signatures. i

OTTO A. LABUS. CHARLES H. PETE-l.

